SBA, FEMA Provide Assistance to People Impacted by Disasters in Southeastern U.S.

This morning, CBS News reports that nearly 200 people have died in tornadoes and severe storms that ravaged six states in the Southeast last night. Our thoughts go out to their loved ones, survivors, search-and-rescue teams, as well as federal, state and local officials dealing with the aftermath of this latest deadly string of disasters that's devastated countless individuals, families, businesses, organizations and communities in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.

Over the years, GoodBiz113 has posted info about disaster-related resources. Here's a handy overview of what the U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA] and Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] offer.

SBA Offers Low-Interest Disaster Loans
SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and to private, nonprofit organizations to repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery, equipment, inventory and business assets that have been damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster.

For complete information about financing available through the SBA's Office of Disaster Assistance, go to: http://1.usa.gov/DisasterLoansSBA.

FEMA Provides Tornado Preparedness and Disaster Response Online Resources
In addition, FEMA has a wealth of tornado preparedness and disaster response resources available online:

* DisasterAssistance.gov -- http://www.disasterassistance.gov/

* Help Others Impacted by Disasters -- http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/howtohelp.shtm [FEMA Donations page]

* Ready Tornado Preparedness -- http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/tornadoes.html

* What to Do Before, During and After a Tornado -- http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/index.shtm

* Ready Evacuation Plan -- http://www.ready.gov/business/plan/evacplan.html

SOURCES: Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA News [file photo by David Fine], U.S. Small Business Administration
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SBA Chief Announces One-Page Form for Claiming Small-Biz Health-Care Tax Credit

SBA Administrator Karen Mills [pictured] just released an open letter to small-business owners, announcing a simple one-page form that we can use to claim the health-care tax credit for 2010. Following, is the text of her letter:

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December 2, 2010

Dear Small-Business Owner,

As I've traveled the country this year, I have heard from many of you who are looking forward to the new tax credits, health insurance exchanges, and other tools that will help you provide health insurance coverage to your employees as a result of the Affordable Care Act.

The most immediate benefit of the new law is a tax credit that will help America’s smallest employers and nonprofit organizations [fewer than 25 fulltime equivalent employees with average annual wages below $50,000] who have been hit hardest by premium increases in recent years. Today, I'm pleased to announce that the Administration is releasing a one-page form and instructions [available at http://bit.ly/SmallEmployers] on how to claim this credit for the 2010 tax year.

In addition, new guidance released today answers questions that many of you have asked related to: your current contribution arrangements, eligibility for certain religious institutions, and participation by multi-employer health and welfare plans. In each case, the Administration has worked to ensure that a broad range of small businesses can qualify.

These credits are available for tax years 2010 through 2013, and for any two years after that. Through 2013, the maximum tax credit is 35 percent of premiums paid by small employers, and 25 percent for eligible tax-exempt organizations. Beginning in 2014, those levels increase to 50 percent and 35 percent, respectively.

Importantly, these credits are just one of many benefits in the Affordable Care Act. Most notably, in 2014, firms with up to 100 workers will be able to pool their buying power and reduce their administrative costs by purchasing coverage through a health insurance exchange.

Finally, the new law strengthens America’s entrepreneurial spirit, overall. For example, it outlaws discrimination against those with pre-existing conditions, giving more Americans the ability to break out of "job lock" and start their own companies. The new law also prohibits insurance companies from dramatically increasing premiums for a small business just because one worker gets sick.

Overall, the Affordable Care Act is a critical tool that will help millions of small-business owners provide health insurance to people who you often consider to be members of your extended family -- your employees. As a nation, we owe you nothing less as you work to grow, create jobs, and lead us toward full economic recovery.

Warm regards,

Karen Mills
SBA Administrator

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GoodBiz113's Take
This latest move effectively underscores the Affordable Care Act's profound import to small businesses' short- and long-term financial and tax-reporting interests. Once again, the Obama Administration has demonstrated that it truly believes in the power of small businesses to propel America's economy, and has delivered on its promise to promote entrepreneurship and affordable access to health care.

SOURCE: HealthCare.gov, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Small Business Administration
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June 29-July 4: Life is good® Offers Free Shipping on All Orders!

This just in...

Today, GoodBiz113 profilee Life is good® ["Life is good® Festivals Unite Communities, Help Kids Face Unfair Challenges"] announced that they're offering free ground shipping on all orders through midnight, July 4th. The takeaway: It's time to stock up!

Shop Life is good®'s special July 4th collection of kids' and adults' tees, caps, accessories and more: http://bit.ly/July4LIG.

To date, the Life is good® Kids Foundation has raised more than $4 million to help kids facing life-threatening challenges. To learn more, go to: http://bit.ly/KidsLIG.
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Rodrigue Creates One-of-a-Kind Artwork to Raise Funds for Youth Development, Animals in Need

GoodBiz113 profilee George Rodrigue ["Louisiana Artist Brings Post-Katrina [Blue Dog] Relief to New Orleans"] just announced that he's created a one-of-a-kind artwork -- "The Three Amigos" [pictured above] -- exclusively for charitybuzz®, to raise funds and awareness for his foundation, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts [GRFA], and for the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [LA/SPCA].

Rodrigue has added hand embellishments -- using colored paint pens, as well as a pencil sketch -- to create this mixed-media piece. "The Three Amigos" is an original silkscreen print that has been signed and remarqued, and measures 22 X 28". It will be mounted and shipped flat to the winning bidder. Bidding at charitybuzz closes on Thursday, July 1, at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

Rodrigue's far-reaching GRFA advocates the importance of the visual arts in the development of our youth. GRFA encourages the use of art within all curricula, and supports a variety of art educational programs.

To learn more, please visit http://bit.ly/RodrigueFoundation.

LA/SPCA is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of animal suffering. Chartered in 1888, they are the oldest and most comprehensive animal welfare organization in the state, providing care and basic medical services for thousands of homeless and unwanted animals each year.

For more information about the LA/SPCA, go to: http://la-spca.org/.

For the chance at adding Rodrigue's "The Three Amigos" to your collection -- and supporting two very worthy nonprofit organizations in the process -- go to: http://bit.ly/TheThreeAmigos.

SOURCE: George Rodrigue Studio
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DHS Secretary Napolitano Announces New Standards for Private-Sector Preparedness

Department of Homeland Security [DHS] Secretary Janet Napolitano [pictured] today announced the adoption of the final standards for the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program [PS-Prep] -- a major milestone in DHS' implementation of a program recommended by the 9/11 Commission to improve private-sector preparedness for disasters and emergencies.

"Private organizations across the country -- from businesses to universities to non-profit organizations -- have a vital role to play in bolstering our disaster preparedness and response capabilities," said Secretary Napolitano. "These new standards will provide our private-sector partners with the tools they need to enhance the readiness and resiliency of our nation."

PS-Prep is a partnership between DHS and the private sector that enables private entities to receive emergency preparedness certification from a DHS accreditation system created in coordination with the private sector.

The standards -- developed by the National Fire Protection Association [NFPA], the British Standards Institution [BSI] and ASIS International -- were published for public comment in the Federal Register in Oct. 2009. The adoption of the final standards was published in a Federal Register notice today, following a series of regional public meetings and the incorporation of public comments.

DHS will continue to accept comments on PS-Prep, the three adopted standards, and/or proposals to adopt any other similar standard that satisfies the target criteria of the December 2008 Federal Register notice, which announced the program.

Comments may be submitted to http://www.regulations.gov/ or FEMA-POLICY@dhs.gov, in Docket ID FEMA-2008-0017.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/PrivateSectorPrep.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
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Jan. 21 Marks National King Day of Service

"Everybody can be great because everybody can serve." -- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today, as we celebrate the birthday of the great Martin Luther King Jr., we're reminded of Dr. King's walk-his-talk message of service. Since President Bill Clinton signed the King Holiday and Service Act on Aug. 23, 1994, King Day of Service has been a nationwide effort to transform the federal holiday honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. into a day of community service that helps to solve social problems. On Monday, Jan. 21, 2008, our nation takes time to commemorate Dr. King's legacy from coast to coast.

Dr. King recognized the power of service to strengthen communities and achieve common goals. Next Monday's King Day of Service honors that legacy by seeking to transform the holiday from simply a day off from school or work for millions of Americans, to a day ON – that is, a day of community service that strengthens communities, empowers individuals, and bridges social barriers.

All types of service are encouraged, with the hope that participants continue to serve throughout the year. The service may meet a tangible need; e.g., fixing up a school or senior center. Or, it may meet a need of the spirit; e.g., building a sense of community or mutual responsibility. Ideally, service projects and activities will include reflection on the life and teachings of Dr. King, as well as how volunteer service is one means of addressing his concerns.

King Day Has Consistently Grown Since 1995
King Day of Service has grown steadily since its inception in 1995, as people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities are encouraged to get involved in their communities in some way.

In 2007, hundreds of thousands of volunteers in cities and towns across the nation participated in thousands of King Day service projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Highlights included:
* Los Angeles, where 85 community partners -- including many small businesses -- worked together to engage an estimated 40,000 volunteers in a variety of projects;
* Philadelphia, where more than 55,000 volunteers participated in more than 600 projects citywide;
* Atlanta, Dr. King's birthplace, where more than 7,000 volunteers took part in 100 service projects; and
* Washington, D.C., where about 10,000 volunteers served at 80 project sites.

Corporation Holds Annual Grant Competition
Each year, the Corporation for National and Community Service, through a small number of intermediary organizations, awards more than $500,000 in grants to groups across the country planning to stage service projects related to King Day of Service. For information on grant fund availability, go to MLKDay.gov.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is the lead government agency supporting and promoting King Day of Service. As such, the corporation offers grants, toolkits, and a variety of other resources to organizations that want to organize King Day projects.

King Day of Service also is supported by numerous national nonprofit organizations, including:
* American Red Cross
* America's Promise
* Arizona Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism
* Big Brothers Big Sisters
* City Year
* The Corps Network
* Do Something
* First Book
* Habitat for Humanity International
* Hands On Network
* HOPE Worldwide
* National Alliance of Faith and Justice
* Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network
* Service for Peace
* United Way of America
* Volunteer Match
* Youth Service America

National corporate sponsors include:
* Bank of America
* Best Buy
* Cargill
* Clear Channel Communications
* Comcast
* UPS Foundation

Resources Available to Promote King Day
A wide variety of free King Day resources for individuals, organizations, and King Day projects is available at www.MLKDay.gov. These include:
* Complete MLK Day Toolkit -- including background on the holiday, project development tips, and sample projects and schedules
* Media outreach tips and materials -- including sample editorials and letters to the editor
* Partnership outreach materials -- including "Now Is the Time," a six-minute video promoting King Day of Service to potential partners
* Marketing materials -- including logos, posters, flyers, T-shirts, event ads, Web banners, and a photo library
* Latest news and updates
* My MLK Day -- a Web portal for organizations to register and promote their King Day projects, sign up and manage community volunteers, and to report results
* Project search for individuals to find and sign up for a project near them

To register your project, or to find a list of projects taking place around the country, go to http://www.mlkday.gov/. For more information or answers to questions about materials posted at MLK.gov, e-mail MLKDay@cns.gov.

SOURCE: Corporation for National & Community Service
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